College football: Picks of the Week

For newcomers: My Pac-12 picks can be found here (and will be posted separately throughout the season) …

While Oregon-LSU is receiving top billing, the Boise State-Georgia showdown will have more impact on the Bowl Championship Series race.

Regardless of the outcome in Arlington, the Pac-12 and SEC will be represented in the BCS, by at least one school and perhaps two.

But if Boise State wins, it increases the chances that a non-AQ team will crash the BCS party. That would have far more significance on the big picture than either Oregon or LSU winning.

You can bet all six AQ conferences are rooting for the Dawgs.

Last year: 30-39-1This year: 0-0

All picks against the spread.
Lines taken from World Features Syndicate. (Note: I use the opening, not current, lines.)

BOISE STATE (minus-3.5) vs GEORGIA (in Atlanta): Major statement by casinos and betting public that line opened BSU -3.5 and has stayed there given it’s essentially home game for Dawgs. Unflappable Broncos will find a way in the fourth quarter, as they always do (except in Reno). Pick: Boise State.

SOUTH FLORIDA (plus-10.5) at NOTRE DAME: Expecting a big season from Irish, and it starts here — against a team making its first appearance in Notre Dame Stadium. Pick: Notre Dame.

BYU (minus-2.5) at MISSISSIPPI: Expecting a big season from the Cougars, who have 10 returning offensive starters. Ole Miss lost to Jacksonville State in last year’s opener. Pick: BYU.

TULSA (plus-20) at OKLAHOMA: Sooners have a history of covering big numbers at home vs. non-AQ teams, and by history I mean: OU has outscored Tulsa 233-36 in the last five meetings. Pick: Oklahoma.

MARSHALL (plus-22) at WEST VIRGINIA (Sunday): WVU’s veteran offense should be near mid-season form. Mountaineers have won four of the past five meetings by 17+. Pick: West Virginia.

Jon Wilner

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I am not totally sold on Bosie….I think Georgia thinks this is a must game- it is for the coaching staff imo- so G wins outright. And USF is not an easy out for ND. Old Miss has some size and the ability to run the football. The Rebels win beat the Mormons…

OT

ESS ESS CEE

Too much speed

Too much power

Too much $$$

===

As the XII turns…next episode…Big 8 Part Deux

StanTheMan

UGA – the bulldog and the football team – by 10. Boise ain’t never played in a place like this against this partisan a crowd. Bowl games ain’t road games.

Boise Fan in Bay Area

To Stan the Man-

Boise State went into Oregon a couple of years ago and beat the Ducks there. Last year, they went to Washington DC to face VA. Tech in a “neutral” game. Approximately 76,000 of the 86,000 people there (I was one of the 10,000 or so there rooting for the Broncos) were cheering loudly for the Hokies and the Broncos came away from there with a win. The Broncos will not be intimidated with the “neutral” crowd at the Georgia Done. BSU beats the dawgs by 7.

SPARTAN FAN

Got to disagree with you on the Boise State game Jon. Boise St. has never won in the SEC. Not even come close since a narrow loss to a crappy 6-6 Arkansas team back in 2000. Just because Georgia is coming off a bad year doesn’t mean the smurfs are going to sneak another hail-mary in to win in the last minute. Their last second luck ran out in Nevada.
They lined up their usual mediocre schedule after Georgia though so they should have a good year. Can’t be ranked at 56 in strength of schedule and expect to be #1. Run the table with Georgia’s schedule then you can do some legit bragging.
And before it starts, as a Spartan fan I am terrible jealous of their success. Hope you enjoyed it while it lasted.

bullship

#4….
At reno wasn’t so good though….

Bosie State= Over Rated

What would Bosie States record be if they played …UGA’s schedule? LSU’S ? Even Oregon’s or USC’s or Stanford’s?….7-5? …even 9-3….

Bosie is not a real top 10 team until they play more than 2 games a year….6-6
?….if Cal played Bosie States schedule…11-2? 12-1….and cal is very unlikely to go to a bowel this year..in short Bosie State Sucks….paper tiger…

Broncoboss

I believe Boise State will have to play a great game to beat Georgia in Atlanta…They are capable of beating anybody!They will need an error free effort vs the Bulldogs to get a “W”. Nice post bullship. So intelligent- ha ha. What’s your IQ? 20? “Sucks” is such a high level vocabulary word…Are you junior high, or elementary school?

Cardinal Rules

The WSJ publishes a great graphic today entitled “The 2011 College Football Grid of Shame.” Have a look: